Group of 34 cadet demerit slips from the United States Military Academy at West Point

Written by various officers.

West Point, New York: 1929-1930. Unbound. Each of these 34 partially printed demerit slips measures 5.5” x 4.25”. Most are completed in pencil; two are typed and a red colored pencil was used for one. One has a “Late Slip” attached. All were issued to first classmen, (the equivalent of seniors in a civilian school and usually referred to a “firsties”) assigned to Company I. Each slip was signed by the issuing Army officer in the lower right corner, and checkmarks in red or blue grease pencil or ink overwrite each signature; some have additional annotations. All are in nice shape with minor edge wear; several have paperclip rust stains. Very good. Item #009051

The harshest academic punishments that can be imposed on military academy cadets are expulsion and suspension for a year, however, these are relatively uncommon. On the other hand, demerits have been handed out with frequency. Cadets received, and still receive today, demerits for violations of academy regulations, after which they are systematically recorded, however, unless an inordinate number are accumulated in a year (I think around 200 in the 1920s-1930s), they do not result in significant punishment. Rather, they are considered in conjunction with academic grades to determine class standings.

These demerit slips were issued in December 1929 and January 1930 for a wide variety of reasons including: * “Making impudent and insolent remark to officer in charge of Cadet Catholic Chapel choir . . . to wit, ‘Sir, I would first like to know who is in charge of this choir’ in a disrespectful manner,” * “Hugging and kissing a young lady on Cullum Hall Balcony in view of people going out of door at 12:55 a.m.,” * “Wearing no belt at drawing instruction,” * “Reporting himself excused from reciting in French,” * “Floor not properly swept and mantle dusty,” * “Towel not folded, * “Shoes not in proper order,” * “Not wearing pajamas night,” * “Not accounted for absence about 11:00 pm,” * “Entering mathematical section room . . . six minutes late.”

An interesting documentary record of cadet life at pre-World War II West Point.